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Finer wool in WA brings penalties

Some years back the message for Western Australian wool growers was to grow finer wool.

From the average base of around 20.5 to 23 micron wools, there was a push for sheep producers to go fine, that's where the money would be.

But the move to finer wool has come at a cost to WA sheep producers, according to longtime Darkan based sheep management consultant, Bob Hall.

"The assumption was that because fine wool was at a premium, produce fine wool and you'll get a premium.

"But supply and demand kicks in and if a lot more finer wool is produced, I'm sorry, the price is going to decline!"

Bob Hall believes that Australian Wool Innovation is doing its best to market fine wool as a special product, but says that's a long term investment that's been beset by the global financial crisis and the lack of demand for finer quality suits and other clothing.

"Those that went fine without paying attention to the quantity their sheep produced, are missing out rather badly at the moment.

"The premium they thought they'd get has been illusionary!

"Wool costs have been a bit disappointing this last 12 months, possibly 10 per cent down on any good average season.

"Going fine and maintaining clip size is a real challenge."

He believes the missing link is wethers which were the heavy wool cutters.

"So we're down to ewes and as lambing percentages increase, we know that you can't produce a lamb and a lot of wool at the same time.

"I think the breeding emphasis would be a way from going fine, but not going broad quickly and concentrating on breeding values associated with more wool, rather than going fine."